Preparing students for a successful future
“The Career Center at LLCC has been an essential asset to help me prepare for my professional dreams,” says Alexa Maher, LLCC student and accounting major. Maher always knew that her dream career was working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the college helped connect her with tools to reach that goal.
Whether you’re looking to explore career and major options, prepare for the current and future job market, or hire and help shape the future workforce — the Career Center is available to help both students and employers.
Maher discovered the center and its offerings when she contacted a career coach for assistance with writing a resume, but she quickly realized more resources were available.
After a meeting with Josh Collins, assistant vice president of business relations at LLCC, Maher learned of an exciting opportunity to attend a virtual seminar that discussed the Honors Internship Program within the FBI. There were over 300 students registered for the seminar, which was hosted by an FBI special agent and recruiter. The agent provided an overview of the program and potential career opportunities. “This seminar was an amazing tool to help prepare me to apply for the internship program and the possibilities that lie beyond it,” she says.
About the Career Center
All students — whether they are full-time, part-time, undecided or simply looking to explore what the world has to offer after college — can utilize Career Center services.
Growing and maintaining employer relations with community businesses is another key part of its services. “Our vision is to strengthen the connection between students and employers to provide career opportunities,” says Collins.
Career coaching and exploration
Undecided? No problem! At the LLCC Career Center, students can complete a career assessment, discuss their results and begin research on careers of interest. Career coaching services are available to help students navigate their futures by discussing majors and learning opportunities based on their interests and strengths as well as potential careers in those areas.
“Watching students flourish and gain confidence is the most rewarding part of what I do,” says Cathy Huffman, LLCC career coach. “Being a career coach is all about meeting our students where they are and providing them with support, resources and learning opportunities.”
Resources are available to students in the areas of resume and cover letter creation, and they can schedule mock interviews to gain confidence in their communication and interview skills. In some courses, faculty incorporate writing a resume and participating in mock interviews.
“In the future, we plan to welcome more employers to campus to help enhance the education for our undecided students on the various career opportunities in our area,” says Collins.
Jobs and internships
LLCC partners with Handshake, a popular online platform linking college students and graduates to thousands of jobs and internships. Students can create a custom search and even apply for open positions directly through Handshake.
Internships allow students to explore interests and gain practical,real-world experience in the workplace while expanding their professional network. “These opportunities are valuable to both our students and community partners,” says Collins. Internships can be set up in various ways including for-credit opportunities through LLCC’s Cooperative Education Work Experience (CO-OP) program as well as non-credit opportunities.
Career fairs and events
The Career Center takes pride in hosting events and career fairs that connect students with community employers. “Career fairs bring employers to campus, creating networking opportunities for our students that they may not normally have,” says Collins. Past career fairs at LLCC have included the Workforce Career Fair, Spring Nursing Career Fair and the Information Technology Career Expo.
On May 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Career Center will host a State of Illinois Career Fair for current students to network and meet with employers from state agencies. The event will be open to the public.
If your business is looking to connect with the Career Center to post on the student job board, promote internship opportunities or participate in a career fair or event, please call 217-786-2210 or email CareerCenter@llcc.edu.